Weather seal for doors, windows and the like



July 23, 1957 c. E. REDDING 2,799,904

WEATHER SEAL FOR DOORS, WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 2'7,

. INVENTOR. CARTER f. FEDD G Patented July 23, 1957 WEATEER SEAL FDR DOORS, WENDGWS AND THE LEE Carter E. Redding, Ashland, Ohio Application .Ianuary 27, 1355, Serial No. 484,446 Ciaims. (Cl. 20-64) The improved weather seal which constitutes the present invention is designed generally to serve the indicated purpose in connection with thresholds, saddles, and frames for doors, windows, hatches, covers, lids, or other closures, where both the frame and the closure fitted thereto may be subject to contraction and expansion.

One principal object of the invention is to provide a structural element of the character described which may be either applied to an existing frame or constitute in effect such frame itself and will be capable of absorbing contraction and expansion both of the opening defined by the frame and the closure fitted therein, so as at all times to provide a snug seal.

A further object is to provide a structural element of the character described which may be readily fabricated from various materials, and particularly metal such as aluminum, aluminum alloys, or other materials such as commercially available synthetic resins, either by extrusion, drawing or casting.

Still another object is to provide such a structural element, which, although requiring a minimum of material in its fabrication, will, when fitted to the opening which is to be closed, provide a rigid frame therefor and at the same time have yielding or resilient engagement with the closure.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a section of my improved structural element specifically designed to be used as a door seal;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through such element showing the lower portion of a door in engagement therewith;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a window frame with a window fitted thereto, such frame being made up of my improved structural elements; and

Figs. 3-A, 3-3, 3-C and 3-D are transverse sectional views showing such frame with the window in engagement therewith, taken respectively at the end and side margins of the frame as indicated by the corresponding section lines in Fig. 3.

Referring to the form of my improved structural element illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 as serving for a door sill S, such element will be seen to comprise the following principal elements, viz. a longtudinally extending base 1, an inwardly facing abutment 2 adjacent its one edge, and a strip 3 that extends inwardly from the opposite edge of said base towards such abutment. The latter, where the element is of substantial size as required for the indicated use, will desirably have a hollow passage 4 extending lengthwise thereof, and the opposite edge from which the strip 3 extends will be desirably formed with a thickened portion 5 to take up the wear to which, as a door sill, the element will be subjected. The outer face 6 of such portion will desirably slope upwardly as will also the outer face 7 of the strip 3, the degree of the slope of such face 6 being greater than that of such face 7. The strip 3 will desirably be of uniform width throughout its extent and the desired slope of its outer surface 7 will be obtained by inclining it at the required angle relative to base 1. Furthermore, the thickness of said strip 3 will be such that, having regard to the material whereof the element is made, it will be resiliently depressible towards base 1. The free edge of the strip will desirably have close fitting slidable contact with the abutment 2, and may, as shown, be formed with a down-turned lip 8 which serves both to stiffen such edge and, by engagement with the base 1, to limit the downward movement of the edge toward the base.

The operation of the door sill, where constructed as just described, will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 2, where a door D is shown in closed position with its lower edge in engagement with the upper surface 7 of strip 3. Upon comparing the position of the latter with the position shown in Fig. 1, it will be observed that it has been depressed slightly as a result of such engagement with the edge of the door, thereby insuring a tight sealing fit. At the same time the abutment 2 serves as a stop for the door when its edge is brought into contact therewith.

In the case of the window frame F illustrated in Fig. 3 and subsidiary Figs. 3-A-B-C-D, my improved structural element is utilized to constitute the entire frame for the window W that is fitted thereto. For the purpose of illustration, the window is shown as a single suitably glazed sash which is designed to be fitted directly into the frame opening. However it will be understood that the window may be hingedly attached at top or bottom or along one side if desired and my improved structural element still employed to providea weather seal around the edges of the frame which are removably engaged by the sash.

In general, the structural element where thus employed to provide a window frame, save for slight differences in form and dimensions, embodies the same elements as the door sill S previously described. Thus such frame (see sectional views thereof in Figs. 3-AB-CD) comprises a base 10 provided adjacent one edge thereof with a hollow abutment 11 and having a strip 12 extending inwardly from the opposite edge of said base. Actually, such strip thus extends from a side wall 13 that projects from such edge of the base and thus with the strip and the inwardly directed lip 14 on the free edge of the latter encloses a hollow space comparable to the hollow space within the aubtment 11. In order to strengthen the frame element thus provided, the face of the base 12 directed oppositely to the parts just described may be formed with a plurality of stiffening ribs 15. These ribs may serve the further purpose of facilitating the attachment of the frame members in the opening which the frame is designed to encase. Accordingly, to form the frame it is merely necessary to provide proper lengths of the structural element, cut them at proper angles to form miter joints f at the corners, and then assemble the frame in place.

As in the case of the door sill S, so with this modified form of structural element designed for use as a window frame, the strip 12 slopes gradually upwardly, i. e. away from base 10, along its line of attachment to wall 13, the degree of such slope being desirably varied just as before. Also just as before, said strip is resiliently depressible toward the base, it being shown thus depressed by the engagement of the window W therewith in each of Figs. 3-A-B-C-D.

In either of the two forms, of my improved structural element which have thus been described, the hollow spaces therein, and particularly that which lies between the base and the resiliently depressible strip, may; be filledwitha material otherithanthat of whichthe structural element itself is made. For example, a heatinsulatingor' moisture absorbent material, either-as a continuous body or granular in character, may be thus usedg however where used as a filler in the space between the resilient strip and base,

such material should of course be compressible so as not to detract from the function of such strip in sealing a door or other-closure'brought into engagement there-,

with. A specific material suitable for use in this location would be sponge rubber, either natural or synthetic.

Owing to its simple construction, my improved weather the element may be cast to exactly or approximately the requiredlength insteadof beingthus ,extrudedjor drawn.

Other-modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of suchistated means be employed; f

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. As an article of manufacture, an integral structural element adapted to form a'weather seal for a door, window or the'like, said element comprising a longitudinally extending base aninwardly facing hollow abutment along one edge of. said base, and a strip extending inwardly from the-opposite'edgeof said base towards 'such abutment,

from the opposite edge of said base towards such abutment, said strip being resiliently depressible towards ,said base, the outer face thereof sloping gradually upwardly and the free edge thereof being formed with a downturned lip normally lying out of contact with said base.

3. As an article of manufacture, an integral structural element adapted to form, a Weather seal for a' door, window or the like, said element comprising a longitudinally extending base, an inwardly facing hollow abutment along one edge of said base, and a strip extending inwardly from the opposite edge of said basetowards such abutment,

' said strip being resiliently depressible towards said base,

said strip being resiliently depressible towards-said base, the outer face thereof sloping gradually upwardly and the a free edge thereof having close-fitting slidable 'contact with uch abutment, such free edge'being formed-witha down:

wardly. extending-lip normallylying out -of contactwith saidb'ase, v V I 2. As an articles ofmanufactur, an' inte'g'fralstructural elementadapted to form a weather sealfo'r a'door, windowor the like, said element comprising a longitudinally-extending base, an inwardly facing hollowabutment-along one edge of said base, and a strip extending inwardly the outer face thereof sloping gradually upwardly and the free edge thereof being formed with a down-turned lip normally lying out of contact with said base, the space between said strip and base. being filled with compressible thermal insulating material.

4. As an article ofmanufacture,--an integral, extruded structural element adapted to form a weather seal for a door, window or the like, said element comprising a longitudinallyextendingbase, an inwardly facing abutment along one edge of said'base, and a strip extending inwardlyffrom the oppositeedge 'of said base towards such abutment, said strip being resilientlydepressible towards saidbase, the outer, face thereof sloping gradually up- 1 wardly; and the free edge thereof being formed with a down-turned lip: which is slidably in contact with the abutment and normally out 'of contact with said base.-

5. --As; an, article ,of :manufacture, a structural device adapted to form a weather seal for a door, window or the -like;said devicezcomprising a longitudinally extend- 7 ing base,.;'an inwardly facing hollow abutment along one edge of -;said base, a strip extending inwardly from the opposite edge of said base with its free inner edge proximatezto. suchLabutment, the outer face of said strip being inclined slightly upwardly relative'to the base along a A longitudinalportionadjoining the free strip edge and having a'greate'r upwardinclination outwardly of'such portion thereof, said. strip beingresiliently depressible towards said base, and a lip extending downwardly from the. free edgeoflth'el strip inclose-fitting slidable contact with the abutment and normally lying out of contact with said base.

References Cited-in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 946,805 .Mooney Jan. 18,- 1910 

